Info: 100 Veg. Capsules, 450 mg each
Sometimes we may get plugged up and just need a short-term laxative to get relief from occasional constipation. Cascara Sagrada, also known as sacred bark, is made the bark of the Rhamnus purshiana [Rhamnaceae] tree) or shrub, which indigenous North Americans have been using to cleanse the bowels for hundreds of years. It also has potential applications as nutritional support for parasitic infestations, colon disorders, liver problems, and poor digestion.
Info: 100 Veg. Capsules, 450 mg each
Sometimes we may get plugged up and just need a short-term laxative to get relief from occasional constipation. Cascara Sagrada, also known as sacred bark, is made the bark of the Rhamnus purshiana [Rhamnaceae] tree) or shrub, which indigenous North Americans have been using to cleanse the bowels for hundreds of years. It also has potential applications as nutritional support for parasitic infestations, colon disorders, liver problems, and poor digestion.
Product Notes:
As a stimulant laxative, properly aged Cascara Sagrada can produce a soft or formed stool and stimulate peristalsis (the colon muscles' squeezing action for voiding) within about eight hours, thanks to its anthraglycosides content.
Cascara sagrada actually has two principal mechanisms of action to relieve constipation, which make it quite effective and well-tolerated in the short-term but can backfire if not used as directed.
First and foremost, it is what's known as a stimulant laxative, which acts directly on the colon or large intestine to promote the bowel movements that organ is responsible for, by stimulating the nerves in its walls to cause contractions. As such, it should only be used for a short period of time – for no more than 7 days in a row – otherwise, not only can a tolerance develop, but the colon's muscles might not work normally without it.
Second, it makes the actual stools easier to move, by increasing their water content, thanks to some compounds called anthraquinones that they (along with aloe, rhubarb, and senna) contain, which slow down how much water and electrolytes the large intestine absorbs from the stuff passing through it. This not only makes the stools less hard and lumpy and painful to pass, but also increase their volume, which increases how much pressure they places on the colon's walls, which of course is the normal means of stimulating its muscle contractions to evacuate the contents. The danger here is, again, you don't want to overdo it, because it can lead to electrolyte and fluid imbalances that can have side effects like the ones listed below.
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Ingredients:
450 mg of Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) (Bark) per capsule.
Non-medicinal ingredients: Veg. capsule (hypromellose, water), Stearic Acid (vegetable source).
Contains no: sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.
Suggested Usage:
For Adults and Children age 12 and up: Take 2 capsules daily, with water or juice on an empty stomach. Allow 6 to 12 hours for laxative effect to occur. Do not use within 2 hours of another medicine. Do not exceed recommended dose. Not for use more than 7 consecutive days. Store in a cool, dry place.
Warnings:
Do not use NOW Foods Cascara Sagrada if you if you are pregnant or nursing, or have abdominal pain, nausea, fever, vomiting, hemorrhoids, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, or are taking thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, licorice root, or other drugs that may aggravate electrolyte imbalance. Consult a health care provider prior to use if you have a kidney disorder or are taking heart medications. Reduce dose or discontinue use if abdominal cramps, spasms &/or pain occur. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist. Due to the risk of electrolyte imbalance, use should be limited to less than 2 weeks of continual use.
Health Canada Natural Product Number: 80003202.